What's your best experience at a brick and mortar coin shop?

In my former town, Albuquerque, NM, there was only one LCS worth a darn, and it was outstanding. I got to know the owner very well over the years and he would save the best LCs for me because he knew I'd buy them. He always gave me a good price, too. All of his coins were accurately graded. I bought, sold, and traded with him for years and never had a bad experience. One thing I do regret. Several years ago he obtained a beautiful VF 1793 Chain LC and offered it to me for $5,100. I didn't have the money at that time. I have always regretted not buying that one.

 

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Randy, luckily I can plead ignorance on this one! As a kid, I didn't pay real close attention to the street signs, as I followed landmarks. I paid closer attention to the numbered streets - they were helpful - but I don't remember Garnett. So - in case the shop is still operational today and they have good people who aren't like that guy in the 70s - I don't have the memory to throw them under the bus! heheh

 

No, not at all..... There was a tiny coin shop that I would pass on my way home from school located near 11th & Garnett. Fellow would let me hang out at his place after school. That was fifty years ago. Last time I went home I drove by to see if he was there but a grocery store was standing in its place.

 

Our small rural town doesn't have one and the closest is 50 miles away in the larger city. We actually DID have one for a few short years before/after about 2010 or so...and he was pretty good with bulk silver. He factored/paid all common U.S. denominations of 90% bulk silver coins regardless of condition without weighing or considering/calculating fractional silver value: silver dollars were paid at a flat 1-oz, silver halves at 1/2-oz, quarters at 1/4-oz and dimes at 1/10-oz...assuming no higher collector value. I had jars and pots-full of silver laying around that I cashed in during that time...I seem to recall silver was up a bit at one point...something north of $20 I think.

 

My LCS, is Skyland Coin and Jewelry is in Bristol, VA. Dewayne and Robert are friendly and very knowledgeable. A wide variety of coins and supplies. Their jewelry department is well stocked and Dewaynes daughter is helpful and patient. If your passing thru or visiting in the area make it a point to stop and shop with them.

 

I have been using Doelger's Gallery of Coins in Warren, NJ for the past 30 years. Pete (the owner) has been a strait shooter and always ready to help. He has on occasion given me some free items that he knew would peak my curiosity (error type stuff). He has a weekly newsletter with recently obtained coins listed for sale (you can get on the list at pete@doelger.com). And, the coffee is always hot.

 

Best experience, years ago when I was a YN at a local dealer on the west coast, was sifting through a container full of pre-1940 cents for 5 cents each I found a '31-S in EF - I pointed out to the dealer so he would know it was in there - instead he said "you got me on that, it's yours for 5 cents!"

Honesty pays off.

 

It's the late 1960's, Superior is still in downtown LA on Wilshire Blvd., and parking is 20c per half hour [if you can't find a meter - 25c per hour.] I am sitting with one of the Goldbergs going over nationals. A older lady comes in and says she has some currency to sell. A-Mark across the street will give $1200, but they won't give her cash, and she doesn't see turning over her good hard cash for a check. Will Superior give her $1200 cash? She brings out eight $50 and six $100 third charter blue seals, all gem unc, all single digit serial numbers, all hand signed [her late husband was the president - Pacific NB.] I sit there keeping my mouth shut; I think I kept from drooling. They say sure, she takes her $1200 and leaves happy. I ask "How much?" Ninety for the $50's, one-fifty for the $100s. I buy two of each - all the cash I had on me at the time. [If that sounds way too cheap, remember there weren't a lot of high denomination currency collectors in those days.] About ten years later I sell a pair for about $3000. Three years ago I sell the other two - about $5000 for the $50, $8000 for the $100.

 

Best was a shop in Pasadena, CA back in the 80s. Nice guys, and a great bid board. I picked up a nice VF 3-legger for the price of a common date off that board one night. Plus, they would give away a Mexico 2-peso gold each week as a drawing. Every item you would win off the board would give you one drawing entry. I would bid on junk silver at the going rate to increase my chances. I think I won four or five.

 

Coins + in Santa Clarita, CA. Jeff is a good, honest guy. He has (had until after you-know-what is over) a big pile of "stuff" in the middle of the shop. I find a framed check on the Bank of Scotland signed Elizabeth R I ask Jeff if that is the Queen of England...he had no idea of what I was talking about, but he had it priced at $5.99, so I bought it. Turns out it wasn't the Queen, but her Mother. Took it to Long Beach and got $100 for it...

 

I feel very fortunate to have my LCS. It's really old school and really old. They have massive inventory. If I see something online I like there's a almost 100% chance I can go in there and look at multiple examples. Often at a better price. Also often the have better examples. They can be busy alot of times and they sell alot of silver and gold. Stackers will line up in the silver line. There's never less than 3 guys working usually 5 and often they are cranking.

All that being said....most experiences are good but now and then I feel somewhat under appreciated. I think these guys just get burnt out. I still prefer the experience. I'll buy from them any day over online. I love getting up on Saturday morning..go to Starbucks..than in the coin shop by 11am. There's not much I'd rather do. I do it almost every weekend. I often go during the week if I want better undevided attention. Like leave my office and go. Most of the stuff I collect is behind the counter so I need them to assist.

I spend between 60 and 400 every trip...probably average 275 on Saturday and another 125 during the week. 1-3 coins per visit.

Sometimes they're just grumpy. You never know.

I had a bad experience just a couple weeks ago. Guy acted like I was an inconvenience sorta. 285 visit and I was really upset with them for the entire week. Made several eBay purchases for about a week.

Bottom line is I kinda need them. I'm lucky ...its a sweet shop. Maybe best I've seen?

 

well when the local coin shop was open here i got 1919 Buffalo nickel and a 1929s both for two dollars even also got a Unc no date Iraq 25 dinar banknote for $7.00

$9.00 for all not too bad of a deal

 

maybe not my best, but memorable just the same. Early in my collecting I had stopped by a local shop. He had a Whitman Lincoln Wheat book about 65% filled, just g/vg/f condition. I bought the book, I think I paid maybe $12. Couple weeks later I went to transfer the coins to a Dansco Album and found that in the Denver mint spaces someone had doubled up the coins with San Francisco mints underneath.

 

I have only ever been in two brick and mortar coin shops. One was my friend from my coin club and the other was in Gettysburg, Pa. I cannot express how much of a pleasure it is to walk in to a B&M shop! I generally always purchase something however the physical contact and lively chat is worth more than anything. So you want that type of contact? Support those people and purchase their stock!

 

My local coin store deals mostly in bullion which is a bummer because I don't usually buy it. But I do have a couple online sellers that have actual small brick and mortar stores that I frequent and have never had a problem with purchases.

 

Twenty plus years ago, I had thoroughly enjoyed reading the published pieces / opinions of one Helen Wallace in Numismatic News. She was the proprietor of R.E. Wallace Stamps and Coins in Fort Worth, TX. I liked her no BS, down to earth, gruff nature that came through in her writing.

I forget what year it was, I had to travel to Fort Worth for business and I made it a point to go to her shop. She came up front when I walked in and, true to the woman I was used to reading, she asked me gruffly what I was after. I told her that I enjoyed reading her articles and we got to talking. I know I was there for over two hours that day. She made fun of my Minnesota accent and used that as my name in our lengthy conversation. I will never forget that day and still have a nice MS buffalo nickel that I purchased from her as remembrance.

Here's a link to an article that Dave Harper wrote shortly after her passing in 2008:

https://www.numismaticnews.net/archive/one-of-a-kind-coin-dealer-dies

RIP, Helen, from your friend "Minnesota"

 

My best experiences were at the Worthy Coin shop in Boston, Massachusetts, which ran a weekly bid wall from the fall to the spring. I'll post this picture of this 1796 Quarter as my experience, but I bought many nice coins there. The late Don Romano ran the shop and his father, Corrado, had purchased many of the coins over the years when he ran the company.



When you talk about a "bid wall," most people think of a penny-Annie operation that sells a few worn out Indian cents at best. This bid wall was anything but that. The week that I bought this coin, there was ANOTHER 1796 Quarter on the same wall. It was EF or close to it, and beyond my financial reach.

The company closed when the elder Romano died. The coins that were left had his name on them in a Stacks' sale. Corrado's pride and joy was one of the 1792 Silver-Center Cents, which sold at that Stacks' sale.

 

I've generally had good experiences with physical shops. The ones where I've had bad experiences, I simply don't return.

My first initiation was as a young new collector (~ age 12) and my hometown shop was very understanding and accommodating to me. The owner understood that keeping the new collectors 'happy' is good in the short long run.

I stayed out of collecting from like 17-30, but jumped back in about 2011 with gusto and found several very good shops. Crossroads Coins in Vandalia, OH and Toledo Coin Exchange in Sylvania, OH are good ones. I also like and frequent Executive Coin in Stow, OH and Lyles Coin and Jewerly in Medina, OH. Also, Coins+ in Cincinnati, OH (downtown location) is very nice the one time I was there. When I'm in downtown Chicago I always try to get to Harlan J Berk.

Generally, wherever I go I try to find a coin shop and check it out as you never know when you'll find an overlooked honey hole or that deal you can't refuse.

With shops I like and do right by the customer, I make sure to thank them for 'providing liquidity' to us collectors and make them fully aware that I am a knowledgeable, but fair customer.